Chillin’ with Ama & Opa

I can’t believe it’s been a week since Ama and Opa flew back to CA after spending the several days with Lil’ A while Mommy and Daddy retreated in Charleston, SC. There were so many sweet pics to swim through but I narrowed them down to fifteen favorites in the hopes of giving you a small glimpse of what life is like when Alexa has two grandparents at her beck and call 24/7.
Since Ama & Opa have left, Alexa tells me several times a day, “I need to go to the park with Jasper (her stuffed monkey) and swing and slide.” Clearly, recreation multiple times a day is a “need” for our little girl now. We’re doing our best to meet the entertainment and excitement level Ama & Opa provided, but I think Alexa is simply tolerating us until she can be the center of attention again – as if she isn’t already!

Thank you Ama & Opa for loving our Lil’ A so well while we were away. We both feel incredibly blessed to know we have parents in whom we can entrust our daughter and never worry about her care. So many of our friends don’t have that privilege and we sure don’t want to take this blessing for granted. We loved all of the updates and text messages. It made our first extended trip away from our little girl brighter knowing she was having a blast with her Ama & Opa.


Two shady but very sweet ladies.


Attack of Opa’s tickle bug.


Playing needs to be fashionable as well as fun. Love the coordinating hair bows.


Opa and Alexa enjoying Mommy’s favorite kind of camping – inside!


Ama may need a chiropractor after pushing Lil’ A in her baby stroller.


Another wild round of “oofing” on Opa. I heard this was a very popular game.


Quite the balancing act. I believe Alexa enjoyed a trip to the park at least two times a day and sometimes three. According to Alexa, the parks in Norman are designated by the color of the slide – blue, red or yellow. This was the yellow park.


On the rainy days when outdoor play wasn’t the best option – reading always was. I think this was a story from “Winnie the Pooh.”


A trip to OU is guaranteed to bring squeals of delight – especially if getting soaked at a fountain is involved.


Painting the fence with Opa is another way to get wet. I love Alexa’s “gangsta” look with the pant leg. Please ignore the divots on our fence - they are courtesy of the hail storm of ‘11.


It seems both Ama and Alexa are immersed in this book.


Alexa appears concerned that Opa’s rocking out on the xylophone with the car keys.
 
Alexa discovers the cross in the resurrection eggs. Ama made them for us, and Alexa loves to open them year round. We joke that she definitely knows the Easter story. We’re just not for sure if she knows the correct order.


Although she’s a pretty picker eater, Alexa loves to prepare anything in the kitchen. (If we could just convince her to eat what she helps to make.) Here she’s beating eggs with Opa while enjoying her new apron from Ama.


This is Jasper, the monkey Alexa pushes in her stroller and takes to the park. She always insists he swing. Looks like he’s having a grand time. Hold on tight, Jasper!
Alexa’s shoes were a lovely touch.


Time to go home again, Sweetie. Alexa says, "Thank you Ama and Opa! I love you so much and am blowing you double kisses right now. Can’t wait to Skype with you. I’ll take good care of Jasper until we see each other again."

Monday pick-me up - Jesus is alive!!

We’ve been teaching Alexa for several months now, “The tomb is open, Jesus is alive!” On a Monday after a week’s vacation . . . that’s a huge pick-me-up! For a believer, this Truth is the bedrock of our salvation, our hope, our purpose. For me personally – my reason to get up. I have to admit, reality is setting back in and it felt heavy as my alarm sounded this morning. Chris and I arrived home from Charleston late Thursday. Chris’ parents flew back to California Saturday. Alexa has been adjusting to life with Mommy & Daddy (let’s just say there’s a bit of separation anxiety), and today is the first day of “the ol’ routine.”

I’m so thankful Easter was smack dab in the middle of our getaway to Charleston and heading into the work week. Singing the words, “Christ the Lord is risen today – Alleluia!” was the perfect ending to several weeks of busyness, sickness, travels and “out of routineness.” Thank you Lord for sending your Son! Thank you for your perfect plan to save wicked men from their sins at a great cost to you and your Son. Thank you for imputing your righteousness into my life so I can stand forgiven, look more like you, and someday, be with your forever. A-lle-luia!

Here’s a glimpse of Easter with my sister’s family in Edmond. Pics from Ama’s & Opa’s time with Lil’ A and adventures in Charleston to come. I’m facing reality one blog entry at a time (wink, wink) . . .


I remember the day both Rylen and Layton would smile for the camera. It was a big day. Then, Lil’ A hits the scene. Um yes, I do believe this is Alexa’s “happy” face.


Lil’ A’s definitely digging the bunny ears. She’s a sucker for her reflection.


Two sweet gals. Now . . . this looks a lot more like her happy face.


Alexa dyes Easter eggs for the first time with Aunt Hol and Rylen.


A big CHEESE with Aunt Hol. Thank you for helping me with the colorful eggs.


Alexa also enjoyed painting Easter eggs (and the plate too). It is great to know she enjoys painting so much. Mommy has several bottles of paint around the house.


I love that look – pure concentration.


Almost finished . . .


Taking a break on the trampoline.


Not taking a break on the trampoline.


Layton taught Alexa how to land on her knees. She loved knee-flopping.


Layton hooping it up against his dad. When I was snapping pictures, Layton asked me if the pics were for my “family computer thing.” Here you go, Layton!


Mark shows off his dunking “skeels.” Hey Mark, couldn’t you do a double-handed reverse dunk off of one foot in college? Yes . . . that’s our man. He’s still got it.


Looks like mad dunks might run in the family. Are you ready, Lil’ A?

A belated blessed Easter to each one of you!! I pray your hope is placed securely in the hope of Christ Jesus. Indeed, the tomb is open, Jesus is alive!

”But the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen!” Luke 24:5-6

We’re still here . . . sort of!

We haven’t blown away just yet. Sorry for such an absence from the blogging world. After a brief stint in Dallas for Spring Break, a virus attack on both Mommy & Alexa, a grad school trip for Daddy, the arrival of Ama & Opa and prep for an adventure to Charleston, SC, life has been a wee bit out of sorts.

In just about an hour and a half, Chris and I will be boarding an airplane for a belated anniversary getaway to “Chucktown.” This will be the longest amount of time we’ve been away from our little sweetie (sniff, sniff), so you can definitely be praying both Mommy and Lil’ A adjust quickly. (Mommy would greatly appreciate those prayers). Fortunately for us, Ama & Opa flew from CA to spend some quality time with Alexa on her stomping grounds. We know she is in the best care possible and we are eager for some time away to relax and reconnect. More to come . . .

Here’s a glimpse of our time together over the past two weeks.


It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t include a pic of the cousins on Spring Break. I didn’t do well photographing much there. Here the kids are immersed in the world o’ Mac.

Yummy bunny bread from Ama & Opa – sheer delight.


Thank you so much Ama!

One of many trips to the park with Ama & Opa. I’m sure there are many more to come.






Yes . . . she is definitely in the best care possible (wink, wink). By the way, happy birthday to Opa!! Thank you for celebrating it with us!

Life is Beautiful

This weekend, Alexa participated in a “Life is Beautiful” photo shoot at Il Dolce (a delicious local gelateria). The owners put it together for an event April 14 to raise awareness for life. It was a before & after shoot in that they ask us to bring our child’s ultrasound pic and then they took a pic of each child devouring his/her gelato. The motto will be something like, “Every child should have the chance to eat gelato.”

So, it might look something like this . . .

Alexa Hope - 28 weeks.
Alexa Hope - 2 years.

Although I do believe the image below looks more like her ultrasound pic – crazy, huh? The only problem is I inadvertently focused on the gelato and not her.

Please join us at Il Dolce on April 14 to celebrate “Life is Beautiful.” You can also enjoy some delish gelato. My personal fave is coconut.

Another event we recently attended was an “Adoption not Abortion” breakfast to raise funds for two adoptive families as well as participate in a picture campaign to promote the Personhood Amendment. This was in reaction to several images posted by anti-personhood supporters stating messages about “choice” and not wanting government to invade their reproductive parts. Here’s our pic . . .


It says, “Don’t tell us our miscarried children aren’t people.” Alexa was sad in the pic.

Here is another video from the event . . .

We Are Not Afraid to Live What We Believe from Adam Oxsen on Vimeo.

MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED . . .

-- Support your local pregnancy wellness center – ours is the Eden Clinic. They graciously accept donations and volunteers. I just attended their spring banquet and they ARE making a difference! http://www.edenclinic.tv/

-- We’ll soon be going through our house to pack up goodies to donate to the “Yard Sale to Help Heroic Women” (May 19th at Berry Road Baptist Church). This yard sale gives all of its proceeds to women who choose life for their baby. And yes, the Gospel is shared in love as well. If you want to donate, let me know.

--  PRAY! Some of my friends pray once a week next to the local abortion clinic. Gulp . . . I have honestly avoided this one because it seems so hard to me. I have lost two babies I desperately wanted. It breaks my heart to watch women purposefully walk into a building of death. Not only will a child be murdered but I know the emotional, physical damage the woman will face because of her choice. It will haunt her the rest of her life. So . . . we’ll see if I can get myself together enough to do this. Babysitter, anyone?

-- Adopt . . . We are surrounded by adoptive families and it has changed my life. To see the Gospel lived out through adoption is something to behold and it brings tears to my eyes. It humbles me.

Who knows what the Lord has in store for the Kennedy crew? We simply want to be obedient where God has called us, to be stewards of His grace, to proclaim that life is beautiful – in the womb and out!

Monday pick-me-up

CHOOSING LIFE!

The symbol in the bottom lefthand corner stands for “abolish human abortion.”

Yep . . . we are pretty passionate about life (and the fact life begins at conception). You’ll be hearing lots more from me about it in the days to come because life is valuable. I have been convicted for the last several months I need to be more vocal about my stance. I need to be more literate on the subject so I can share why I believe life begins at conception and why every life is valuable (wanted or not, healthy or with defects). I need to pray more and fight harder. And, I need to share this conviction with the world around me. Why? God creates life. He values life and MILLIONS of lives are being lost every year to a genocide in the womb.
The Psalmist says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.” Psalm 139:13-16
So, we want to encourage all of our readers to not only choose life but to also fight for life with us. This is a spiritual battle the Enemy is desperately trying to win. His lies are convincing and his deception is thick. As followers of Christ, we must stand for Truth. We must stand up and speak out for life.

I’ve included three ways you can begin making a difference right now. Tomorrow, I’ll include a few ways our family is trying to make a difference in our community. We desire to live out what we believe. Join us!

1. If you’re an Oklahoma voter, sign the Personhood Amendment petition. You can read about and sign it at the link below. We need signatures to get this on the ballot to proclaim that life begins at conception. Spread the news to your friends, family and churches, but most importantly, sign the petition!
http://personhoodoklahoma.com/news/

Josiah is a young man from our church who survived an abortion and advocates for life.

2. Join the Abolitionist Society of Oklahoma or an abolitionist society in your state. The goal of this society is to eradicate abortion by being “salt and light” in our communities – to fight for life and live out the Gospel while doing so. To learn more, you can check them out on Facebook or their blog. http://blog.abolishhumanabortion.com/

3. Support pro-life movies . . . go see “October Baby” this weekend! Other great movies include “Rescued” (check out my post on Feb. 22), “180,” and “Bella.” Here’s the trailer for “October Baby.” http://octoberbabymovie.net/

October Baby trailer

Let’s fight for life together!